Mothers who have taken antidepressants during their pregnancy because they thought it was safe have given birth to babies with birth defects ranging from cleft lip to life-threatening congenital heart defects and, in some cases, the babies have been required to get full heart transplants.

Our legal birth defects team consists of 10 attorneys from two prestigious law firms that have more experience handling antidepressant birth defect cases than any other firm in the country. Through our litigation and consultation with medical experts, we are establishing the link between antidepressants and the following congenital defects:

Antidepressants and Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the New BornPPHN is a life-threatening disorder in which the newborn's arteries to the lungs remain constricted after delivery, limiting the amount of blood flow to the lungs and therefore the amount of oxygen into the bloodstream. Newborns who have PPHN are typically full-term or near-term infants who are born without associated congenital abnormalities, yet present after birth with severe respiratory failure.

Celexa and Birth DefectsSSRI antidepressants similar to Celexa have been linked to elevated risks of certain birth defects, including certain congenital heart defects as well as persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN). Evidence gathered in scientific studies suggest that ingesting SSRI antidepressants like Celexa while pregnant may increase the risk of a number of serious birth defects.

Lexapro and Birth DefectsWe represent hundreds of families across the nation whose babies were born with birth defects to mothers who took an antidepressant during pregnancy. Mothers who have taken antidepressants such as Lexapro during their pregnancy because they thought it was safe have given birth to babies with birth defects ranging from cleft lip to life-threatening congenital heart defects and, in some cases, the babies have been required to get full heart transplants.

SSRIs and Birth DefectsSSRI antidepressants have been at the center of heated debate due to growing concerns over potential adverse reactions caused by the medication, including serious birth defects. Scientific studies have shown that taking certain antidepressants during pregnancy can pose serious risks to unborn babies. The Food and Drug Administration has used compelling evidence to warn of certain risks associated with the use of SSRI antidepressants during pregnancy.

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